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STEP BY STEP [TV] | A Testament to Dana and Rich

I loved this show more than any other during the TGIF days. I also shipped these two harder than Cory and Topanga. I truly feel they are underappreciated, so this is my testament to prove they how well they compliment each other. They each have their own quirks, like Dana's compulsive need to be the best at everything and getting demoralized when things go wrong. Then there's Rich's ability to turn everything into a joke even in the worst moments. While these quirks sometimes cause annoyance, they also cause growth. Rich makes Dana more grounded and helps her loosen up, showing her that it's okay to be just "okay" at something. And, Dana teaches Rich that being a "grown up" is worthwhile. She essentially takes him from a "boy" to "man" as cheesy as it sounds. The quirks and flaws that brought aggravation in the beginning later became what they loved most about the other (hence the song choice). They are incredibly mismatched but also completely in sync.

Starring Staci Keanan as Dana Foster and Jason Marsden as Rich Halke.

Step By Step is an American sitcom that aired from 1991-1998. The series follows Patrick Duffy and Suzanne Somers who star as single parents Frank and Carol, respectively, each with three children, who wed and form a blended family.

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SPICE WORLD (1997) || A Tribute to a Millennial Classic

A tribute to the musical comedy SPICE WORLD (1997) upscaled to HD. I have lots of memories with this film and the Spice Girls in general. I enjoy revisiting it every once in awhile and still listen to their albums regularly. I wanted this to play like a music video/promo. The version of this song they sing in the film is different and edited for time, so it took a bit to sync up their mouths to the lyrics and have it play out like I wanted.

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FEAST OF JULY || An Under Appreciated Romantic Drama

"Feast of July is a 1995 American-British neo noir crime film directed by Christopher Menaul and produced by Merchant Ivory Productions, based on the 1954 novel by H. E. Bates, starring Embeth Davidtz and Ben Chaplin."

Synopsis: "Abandoned by her lover, Englishwoman Bella Ford, finds shelter with the Wainright family. While the three Wainright sons vie for her affection, only one, Con, catches her eye. Bella thrives with the family and her newfound love for Con...that is until her former lover comes back into the picture."

NOTE: Film deals with difficult topics like miscarriages of which it depicts very early in the film. Caution for viewers who may have issues with watching these depictions.

Song: Wicked Game

Artist: Ursine Vulpine & Annaca

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SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993) | Embeth Davidtz as Helen Hirsch

A tribute to Embeth Davidtz as Helen Hirsch in Schindler's List (1993). Also starring Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Song: In the End (Linkin' Park Cover) Artist: 2WEI

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MATILDA (1996) || Miss Honey is a 90's kids icon

A tribute to my favorite childhood film, Matilda (1996) starring Mara Wilson as Matilda and Embeth Davidtz as Miss Honey. Embeth as Miss Honey is the best casting choice in the history of cinema and you can't change my mind. Synopsis: "This film adaptation of a Roald Dahl work tells the story of Matilda Wormwood (Mara Wilson), a gifted girl forced to put up with a crude, distant father (Danny DeVito) and mother (Rhea Perlman). Worse, Agatha Trunchbull (Pam Ferris), the evil principal at Matilda's school, is a terrifyingly strict bully. However, when Matilda realizes she has the power of telekinesis, she begins to defend her friends from Trunchbull's wrath and fight back against her unkind parents." Song: Send Me On My Way Artist: Rusted Root

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ARMY OF DARKNESS (1992) || Bruce Campbell & Embeth Davidtz

A tribute to Army of Darkness (1992, released 1993), the third installment of the Evil Dead franchise and the sequel to Evil Dead 2. The films stars Bruce Campbell (most famous for Evil Dead) and Embeth Davidtz (Matilda, Schindler's List) in her first American film. Directed by Sam Raimi. Synopsis: "Ash is transported back to medieval days, where he is captured by the dreaded Lord Arthur. Aided by the deadly chainsaw that has become his only friend, Ash is sent on a perilous mission to recover the Book of the Dead, a powerful tome that gives its owner the power to summon an army of ghouls."

Song: Don't Stop Believin' Artist: Journey

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One is glad to be of service.

A tribute to Bicentennial Man (1999) starring Robin Williams and Embeth Davidtz. These two dominated my favorite childhood films from Mrs. Doubtfire to Matilda. It was awesome to see the two of them in a film together. This one harbors a lot of sentimental value, not just because of Robin's passing, but because this film was one of my comfort movies growing up.

Synopsis: "Richard Martin (Sam Neill) buys a gift, a new NDR-114 robot. The product is named Andrew (Robin Williams) by the youngest of the family's children. "Bicentennial Man" follows the life and times of Andrew, a robot purchased as a household appliance programmed to perform menial tasks. As Andrew begins to experience emotions and creative thought, the Martin family soon discovers they don't have an ordinary robot."

Song: Lucky Man

Artist: The Verve

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THE GIRL NEXT DOOR (2004) || A Millennial Classic

A tribute to the romantic dramedy, The Girl Next Door (2004) starring Elisha Cuthbert and Emile Hirsch. I consider this to be in the top tier of 2000's cinema, especially for romances. Everyone wanted a girl like Danielle. I used to watch this film on repeat when I was in high school. I still revisit it every few months. The film was released 20 years ago last April. Summary: "Eighteen-year-old Matthew Kidman (Emile Hirsch) is a straight-arrow overachiever who has never really lived life... until he falls for his new neighbor, the beautiful and seemingly innocent Danielle (Elisha Cuthbert). When Matthew discovers this perfect girl next door is a one-time porn star, his sheltered existence begins to spin out of control. Ultimately, Danielle helps Matthew emerge from his shell and discover that sometimes you have to risk everything for the person you love."

Song: Take a Picture Artist: Filter

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MORTAL KOMBAT (1995) || ANTHEM

A tribute to the film adaptation of the long lived video game series. Mortal Kombat holds a lot of value to me because I watched so much as a kid. I was too young to play the video games when this came out, but that didn't stop me from sneaking a few plays at my cousin's house (Sega for the win). I always played a Sheeva or Kitana...and I always lost until I got older and finally learned the fighting mechanics. I definitely owe this film for introducing me to the games. There are so many tributes to this movie that utilize the same formula of just putting clips to music. I wanted to do something more. My editing style has always leaned more towards a cinematic feel. This is my spin on a trailer of sorts.

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MAUREEN O'HARA: A WOMAN OF BEAUTY, STRENGTH, & DIGNITY

In Memory of The Queen of Technicolor

In loving memory of one of Ireland's greatest gifts to cinema, The O'Hara Collection is devoted to the films and collective works of actress, Maureen O'Hara. The goal of this blog is to showcase her wonderful spirit and shed light on her glorious career as one of the Golden Age's finest. Later dubbed The Queen of Technicolor, O'Hara not only dressed her films with her fiery red hair and brilliant green eyes, but she also had a talent for acting that even rivaled her beauty. There will never be another like her.

Maureen O'Hara was born August 17th, 1920. She passed October 24th, 2015. She was 95 years old.

Interviews and commentary sampled from the following featurettes: -A Tribute to Maureen O'Hara with Hayley Mills, Juliet Mills, and Ally Sheedy -The Making of The Quiet Man (hosted by Leonard Maltin) -The Making of Rio Grande (written and hosted by Leonard Maltin)

Song: Maggie's Theme from The Parent Trap Soundtrack

Films Used In Order of Appearance: Lisbon (1956) w/ Ray Milland Jamaica Inn (1939) w/ Charles Laughton The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) w/ Charles Laughton How Green Was My Valley (1941) w/ Walter Pidgeon Against All Flags (1952) w/ Errol Flynn The Black Swan (1942) w/ Tyrone Power Spencer's Mountain (1963) w/ Henry Fonda Our Man in Havana (1959) w/ Alec Guinness Mr. Hobbs Takes A Vacation (1962) w/ Jimmy (James) Stewart The Parent Trap (1961) w/ Hayley Mills The Quiet Man (1952) w/ John Wayne The Rare Breed (1966) w/ Juliet Mills McLintock! (1963) w/ John Wayne Rio Grande (1950) w/ John Wayne The Wings of Eagles (1957) w/ John Wayne Only the Lonely (1991) w/ Ally Sheedy & John Candy

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OUR MAN IN HAVANA (1959)

Maureen O'Hara & Alec Guinness Delight in this Spy Comedy

A tribute to Our Man In Havana released 1959 starring Maureen O'Hara (The Parent Trap) and Alec Guinness (Star Wars). This is a truly wonderful film full of quirky humor, intrigue, and creative cinematography. If you are a fan of British comedy and artistic films then I highly recommend it.

Synopsis: "British expatriate Jim Wormold runs a vacuum cleaner store in Havana, Cuba. He has promised his vain daughter, Milly, a horse and a country club membership, which leaves him desperate for money. When Hawthorne proposes he become a paid British agent and recruit other spies, he accepts, and haplessly embarks on a new career. Though he's delighted when he meets gorgeous fellow spy Beatrice Severn, Wormold finds he's now a target."

Song is Hey Pachuco by Royal Crown Revue (the version used in the 1994 film The Mask).

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|| THE QUIET MAN ||

John Wayne & Maureen O'Hara Mesmerize in this Classic Romance

The above tribute is dedicated to June Beck, founder of Maureen O'Hara Magazine.

Synopsis: "A retired American boxer returns to the village of his birth in 1920s Ireland, where he falls for a spirited redhead whose brother is contemptuous of their union." -IMDB

The Quiet Man (1952) is a film directed by John Ford (How Green Was My Valley) and stars John Wayne (True Grit, The Searchers) and Maureen O'Hara (The Parent Trap, Miracle on 34th Street). This is the second film Wayne and O'Hara starred in together, the first being Rio Grande, which Ford also directed. Wayne and O'Hara had amazing chemistry on screen and made five films together in total, the rest being Wings of Eagles, McLintock!, and Big Jake. The Quiet Man is seen as the more successful of their films, having achieved the Academy Award for Best Cinematography and Best Directing in 1953.

John Wayne & Maureen O'Hara remained great friends until his death in 1979.

The song in the tribute is Into the Mystic by Van Morrison.

Notes: As with most old films, there are some things that may not have aged well, but were considered fine for the time period. One thing is the jokes about beating women who misbehaved with sticks. While no one was actually beat with a stick in the film, it was joked about. O'Hara's character, Mary Kate, was a redhead with a noted fearful temper. It was implied that she needed a good stick whipping to keep her in line, but Wayne's character never did. It was a sign that he had no issues with her being full of fire. The fact that these jokes exist doesn't diminish the fact that this movie is wonderful. I will always highly recommend it.

Fun Fact: At one point during filming, O'Hara hit John Wayne for real after their first big kiss. The punch was scripted, but she didn't pull it. Wayne saw it coming and blocked her punch with his hand. The impact of her fist with his palm caused her wrist to fracture. She literally broke her wrist and kept filming. O'Hara prided herself on being able to keep up with the men. She never let anything they threw at her bring her down. This is one reason why John Ford repeatedly used her in his films and why John Wayne loved working with her.

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SOMEWHERE IN TIME

A timeless romance starring Jane Seymour & Christopher Reeve

A tribute to Somewhere In Time (1980) starring the beautiful Jane Seymour (Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman) and the late great Christopher Reeve (Superman).

Synopsis: "In 1972, playwright Richard Collier (Christopher Reeve) becomes fascinated by a photo of Elise McKenna (Jane Seymour), a turn-of-the-century stage actress, while staying at the Grand Hotel in Mackinac Island, Michigan. As Richard's obsession grows, he learns from a friend that time travel may actually be possible through hypnosis. Richard travels in time to meet Elise, and the two appear destined to be together. However, Elise's jealous manager (Christopher Plummer) attempts to keep them apart." Fun Fact: Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve had a rather intense love affair behind the scenes of this film. To quote Jane, they fell "madly in love." The looks, touches, and chemistry they had on screen was believable for a reason. Their affair came to an abrupt end when Reeve's ex-girlfriend revealed to him that she'd been hiding a pregnancy and was about to give birth to his child. Christopher ended his romantic relationship with Jane as a result, making a point that he needed to do what he thought best...be a father and partner to the mother of his child. Jane recounted that, while she did her best to understand, the news crushed her and she fought back tears during one of their final scenes together on set. Despite how their romantic relationship ended, the two remained very close. If things had gone differently, if Reeve hadn't received the new of his ex's pregnancy, perhaps he and Jane would have went on to enjoy a lasting partnership together. We will never know and, perhaps, that's how it should be.

This film features a memorable score by John Barry, yet the song I chose is Where Does My Heart Beat Now by Celine Dion. It is a song I feel describes the relationship of Elise and Richard perfectly. Hopefully you enjoy it :)

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STARSHIP TROOPERS || Welcome to the Jungle

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Jet Li in Kiss of the Dragon (2001)

Pretty much what the title says, a tribute to Jet Li and Kiss of the Dragon. I've been wanting to make a video this film for awhile. I hope you enjoy :)

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The Ring Trilogy | Xena: Warrior Princess [Teaser Trailer]

The Ring Trilogy is a series of episodes in the sixth and final season of Xena: Warrior Princes that covers Xena's past as a Valkyrie of Valhalla. Norse Warrior Beowolf approaches her for help to defeat Grindl, a viscous monster unleashed by her past corruption and greed. A path of redemption forces her to track Grindl down and retrieve a destructive ring forged from the sacred and powerful Rheingold, a ring Xena herself created decades earlier.

Trailer is also available here.

A full scale tribute is coming soon.

The audio gave me some trouble on this one. I wound up having to replace and add a few sound effects to improve the quality and get the look/feel I was going for. The dialogue was also difficult to isolate and keep crisp, so I apologize if it is a little low or muffled. I'm working to improve it more on the full tribute.

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A Top Tier 80's Romance That Many Have Never Seen

TWO LOVERS. ONE CHANCE. NO TIME.

A tribute to the film FIRE WITH FIRE starring Virginia Madsen and Craig Sheffer. A young man serving time at a parole camp falls in love with a young woman at a nearby Catholic school. Instant attractions brings them together and sparks a fire that forces them on the run from the law, the church and their parents. This is a film with amazing chemistry that provides very real and captivating performances from Madsen and Sheffer. It also offers beautiful cinematography and direction from Duncan Gibbins. Despite this, the film flew under the radar as it went up against other films like Top Gun and Short Circuit released in May of 1986. If you've never heard of this film and enjoy a good romance, then I highly suggest this one.

Inspired by true events. Song: Slave to Love by Bryan Ferry (featured in both this film and 9 1/2 Weeks)